AMERICAN POLITICS:

ENDING THE TORTURE CAMPS AND THE TORTURE SCHOOL:

In the waning days of the rule of Emperor Bush II American legislators are striving to distance themselves from the greatest scandals of his regime, especially the acceptance of torture as a regular part of US foreign policy. The President-elect has made his usual vague statements about ending this practice. The School of the Americas Watch intends to hold their feet to the fire. Here's their story and what they'd like you to do to help.

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Senate confirms Rumsfeld Authorized Torture:
Take Action: Ask President-elect Obama to Ban Torture and Close the School of the Americas

Yesterday the US Senate released a report confirming that Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and other senior US officials are responsible for authorizing torture at Abu Ghraib prison and Guantanamo Bay. Similarly, the torture manuals used at the School of the Americas/WHINSEC - made public in 1996 - were also authorized by the highest levels of the Pentagon in the early 1980s. Read the Reuters article here: www.soaw.org/rumsfeld

TAKE ACTION: Please Call the Obama transition team and share the below message at 202-540-3000 - after instructions, press "2" to speak with the transition team.

"President- elect Obama, as a member of the School of the Americas Watch - I ask that after you are inaugurated President that you issue executive orders to ban torture - no exceptions, close the School of the Americas/WHINSEC and close Guantanamo Bay."

Please also take a moment to Contact President-elect Obama via his website to paste in the above message at:

http://change.gov/page/content/contact